Eleni Daniilidou puts aside Monica Puig in the opening clash – Tashkent Open 2012
World number 101, Eleni Daniilidou, ousted the 18-year-old Puerto Rico citizen, Monica Puig, in straight sets 6-4, 6-2 to book a berth in the second round of the Tashkent Open on Tuesday.
It was an absolute treat to witness the 29-year-old Grecian reigning supreme over the teenager in every aspect of the game. She had earlier defeated the same player in the final qualifier of the BNP Paribas Open at Indian Wells,
earlier this year. So, the stats were definitely favouring the right-handed experienced Grecian who converted the on paper victory into reality.
The opening set was started well by the Puerto Rico representative. Puig held her serve at the start and almost broke her opponent’s serve before the Grecian returned a possible winner and kept the point alive that helped her to
deny her opponent from winning the first breakpoint of the match. No drama was witnessed in the following two games and the scores were pushed to 2-2.
Daniilidou had a go at her opponent in the fifth game of the match; had three opportunities to break serve but squandered all of them. The 18-year-old was tamed across the hard courts of Uzbekistan but she somehow managed to survive
and keep the scores together.
The Grecian had a second attack on her foe in the seventh game and this time she managed to earn a breakpoint that proved pivotal in deciding the winner of the opening set. Puig was unable to test her opponent and lost the opening
phase of the encounter.
Trailing one set down, the 161st ranked Puerto Rico qualifier started the second set in dismal fashion. She lost the opening serve game and couldn’t break her opponent’s serve back to level the scores. Daniilidou kept
the pressure on her rival and squeezed another breakthrough in the seventh game of the set that gave her an unassailable lead of 5-2. She served for the set; lost just one point in booking a second round spot in the tournament.
Eleni Daniilidou faces a tough competition against the sixth seed Serb star, Bojana Jovanovski, in the second round.
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